Erik Smith. Contributed photo.
Real estate agent and lifelong Milford resident Erik Smith officially announced March 10 that he will be running for state representative in the 118th General Assembly District.
“I grew up in Milford, went to Milford public schools, and now I work with Milford residents every day to help them sell their homes or purchase a property in the town I love and call home,” Smith said.
When he talks to residents interested in buying or selling their homes, Smith said the number one concern they have is the increased cost of living in Connecticut.
“For many residents, the idea of growing up, going to school, working, and retiring in Connecticut is no longer achievable,” he said. “This is something that I want to change, and it is the reason I have decided to run for state representative.”
“Last year, Democratic lawmakers and Governor Ned Lamont passed a state budget that raised taxes on working families again. The solution by the Democratic Party that has controlled the legislature for nearly four decades is to always raise taxes – this will not be my solution,” Smith said. “Connecticut has so much to offer, but our beautiful state is being hurt by the lack of fiscal restraint in Hartford.”
Smith is a full-time real estate agent for Coldwell Banker. Throughout his real estate career, Smith has won numerous awards. In 2019 and 2018, he received the International President’s Circle Award with Coldwell Banker, which recognizes the top 6 percent of agents internationally.
Smith said that the state isn’t doing enough to address the rising cost of going to college and should be providing more opportunities for students to explore trade careers.
In addition, Smith said his knowledge of zoning and real estate will put him in a position to help make more changes to the 8-30g affordable housing law.
“We need to let Milford and other local communities be their own decision-makers when it comes to economic development and housing,” he said. “I know abolishing this law will not be simple, it took decades to make simple changes to the affordable housing law. I will work with lawmakers on both sides to ultimately fix this law, and give control back to local communities.”
The Milford Republican Town Committee will be officially nominating and endorsing candidates for state representative and state senator in May. Smith is the only Republican to announce his intentions to run for the seat.